devoid

[ dih-void ]

adjective

1. not possessing, untouched by, void, or destitute (usually followed by of ).

   Synonyms: barren, bereft, destitute, wanting, lacking

verb (used with object)

1. to deplete or strip of some quality or substance:

   imprisonment that devoids a person of humanity.

devoid

/ dɪˈvɔɪd /

adjective

1. postpositivefoll byof destitute or void (of); free (from)

Word History and Origins

Origin of devoid¹

1350–1400; Middle English, originally past participle < Anglo-French, for Old French desvuidier to empty out, equivalent to des- dis- ¹ + vuidier to empty, void

Word History and Origins

Origin of devoid¹

C15: originally past participle of devoid ( vb ) to remove, from Old French devoidier, from de- de- + voider to void

Example Sentences

The prevalent use of gift registries would argue otherwise — but while they ensure that people get the stuff they want, they are devoid of any thought or sentiment.

From Washington Post

The Greenbelt store was devoid of customers Saturday afternoon save for a preteen boy and his mom browsing the orderly rows of games, most bearing “pre-owned” stickers.

From Washington Post

Nobody in their right mind would ever give a job to someone so completely devoid of the most rudimentary social skills.

From Washington Post

Rivers’s lack of championship rings will likely invoke comparisons to Fouts, Dan Marino and Warren Moon, three Hall of Fame quarterbacks that are also devoid of a Super Bowl win.

From Washington Post

They pointed the most powerful telescope in history, the Hubble Space Telescope, at a dark patch of sky devoid of known stars, gas, or galaxies.

From Singularity Hub 

This is comedy based on a cold humor, detached, euphemistic, devoid of any generosity.

From The Daily Beast

Yes, it was a fairly disappointing year in music—one devoid of Goth teen prodigies, Yeezy, and galvanizing rock anthems.

From The Daily Beast

The gift of candidates devoid of personality is that the character of the electorate has a chance to come through.

From The Daily Beast

The wheel eventually wound up inventoried, “utterly devoid of its emotional significance” in a museum.

From The Daily Beast

To Western eyes and ears, Sharia law seems devoid of respect for differences of opinion or complex moral thinking.

From The Daily Beast

They jeered and sounded mournful notes without promise, devoid even of hope.

From Project Gutenberg

And being devoid of ambition, and striving not toward accomplishment, she drew satisfaction from the work in itself.

From Project Gutenberg

Like his fellow Marshals, Macdonald hated the Spanish war, which was a war of posts, and devoid of glory.

From Project Gutenberg

The children were left to her stepdaughter, herself still half a child, and devoid of all experience.

From Project Gutenberg

Baroudi was as totally devoid of ordinary scruples as the average well-bred Englishman is full of them.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bare
• barren
• lacking
• vacant